Category Archives: Japan

A traffic jam is seen as people evacuate after tsunami advisories were issued following an earthquake, in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo November 22, 2016. Kyodo/via REUTERS

By Yuka Obayashi and William Mallard | TOKYO
A powerful earthquake rocked northern Japan early on Tuesday, briefly disrupting cooling functions at a nuclear plant and generating a small tsunami that hit the same Fukushima region devastated by a 2011 quake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake, which was felt in Tokyo, sent thousands of residents fleeing for higher ground as dawn broke along the northeastern coast.

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I met Jun Yamadera at the SVForum Japan Pitch Night, March 10, 2016 in Menlo Park, CA. He reminded us about the 5 year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami in the Tohoku region of Japan. His company is developing a cancer diagnostic system, and much of his work has been inspired by the strength and the fortitude of the people of Fukushima. http://www.nowhere.co.jp

His other company, Fukushima Wheel, http://fukushimawheel.org/
developing:
“A specially outfitted bicycle features environmental sensors to measure live city data such as radiation, temperature, humidity, NOX, and so on.”

Both endeavors demonstrate the forward and innovative thinking from the new entrepreneurs in the Fukushima region.

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TOKYO: A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the south-western coast of Japan early on Saturday, authorities said, with a small tsunami observed on one island but no major damage reported.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) put the epicentre of the shallow quake about 160 kilometres (100 miles) from the town of Makurazaki in south-western Japan.

It was centred about 10 kilometres under the ocean floor and struck at 5:51am (20:51GMT on Friday), the USGS and Japan’s Meteorological Agency said.

The Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory as a result of the quake but cancelled it about 90 minutes later.

A tsunami measuring 30 centimetres (about one foot) in height was observed on the southern island of Nakanoshima, it said. No major damage from the quake or tsunami was reported, while a pair of nuclear reactors on the southern island of Kyushu were unaffected, its operator said.

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A powerful and extremely deep earthquake struck near remote Japanese islands and shook Tokyo on Saturday, but officials said there was no danger of a tsunami, and no injuries or damage were immediately reported.

The magnitude-8.5 offshore earthquake struck off the Ogasawara islands at 8:24 p.m. at a depth of 370 miles, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 7.8 and a depth of 421 miles.

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Anna Ota of Yokohama City University won the Grand Prize of the third All Japan Student English Presentation Contest held in Tokyo earlier this month.

The freshman presented her idea that she found during a camping trip program for children in Fukushima Prefecture, at the annual presentation competition held in Yomiuri Otemachi Hall in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on Dec. 6. Students were asked to convey their ideas in four-minute presentations on one of three given topics.

Ota, 19, responded to the prompt “propose a plan to bolster reconstruction efforts in the areas hit by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake at an international forum.” After the ceremony, she said, “I’m happy with the award, but the next step, I hope, will be to turn my words into action.”

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FUKUSHIMA–With its team of international researchers, Fukushima University’s Institute of Environmental Radioactivity moved into full-scale operation on Dec. 3.

An official ceremony was held to mark the opening of its new two-story-high facility built with a government subsidy of roughly 1.8 billion yen ($15 million).

Established in July 2013, the institute studies the effects of the fallout from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant accident triggered by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster as well as various forms of environmental contamination globally.

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FUKUSHIMA, JAPAN (CNN) – Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster is leading to a new kind of “dark tourism.”

Almost 4 years after the meltdown forced entire towns to evacuate, tour guides are taking people through abandoned neighborhoods.

CNN finds out why one devastated town is allowing others to witness its tragedy.

The first thing people ask about is the radiation. Is it even safe to go in when most are kept out? Our local government tour guide says contamination levels are low.

They are allowing quick trips into the safer parts of Fukushima prefecture, still empty from the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Nearly 4 years later, outsiders are getting a rare look at this desolate, abandoned place.

Damage from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami sits untouched. Crumbling buildings are falling further into disrepair. Weeds are slowly taking over.

The magnitude-6.7 earthquake struck shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday west of Nagano city at a depth of 5 kilometers (3 miles), the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The agency revised the magnitude and depth from initial estimates. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a magnitude of 6.2. Since the quake occurred inland, there was no possibility of a tsunami.